By Cheryl Jahn

Opposition weighs in on Millennium Park

Sep 6, 2023 | 2:24 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – BC’s official opposition has come out swinging after this comment was made by Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon last week in response to accusations from Council about the lack of action in removing Millennium Park.

“The Council is wrong because if they check with staff, they’ll know that our staff have been meeting with them every week, talking about locations, what’s viable, what is safe, where is safe? Expanding teams that will be on the ground. All that work’s been happening since June since we signed the MOU. And to suggest that no work has been happening is utterly false.”

But Solicitor General critic Mike Morris says it was shocking to hear the minister blame the municipality when it is Kahlon’s responsibility to ensure that there is housing with appropriate levels of support.

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“The municipality, the Mayor and Council are showing leadership here and the province has not shown leadership on this file anywhere in the province. We have people languishing in feces and garbage and in dangerous conditions, which is making it more dangerous for the people who live in the neighborhoods surrounding these tent camps. And the province has done little to address that.”

In fact, Prince George was the site of an announcement by Premier David Eby with respect to actions around homeless encampments.

“Mayor Yu and I have just signed an agreement that formalizes our commitment to working together to help people sheltering outdoors move inside and eventually into safe, stable and supportive permanent homes,” announced Premier Eby. “Our Memorandum of Understanding also includes a shared commitment to preventing encampments from taking hold in the first place.”

Mike Morris says he has met with BC Housing and accommodations have been offered through the folks here in Millennium Park as well as Moccasin Flats. But there is a reluctance to take up B.C. housing and that offer. Not acceptable, says Morris.

“And I think we need to come down fairly strict with those guidelines. If you have a house available, you have to live there. If you have a room available, you have to live there. You can no longer live in this area here because it’s unsafe and it’s unsanitary and prevents hazards to the public.”

The City has given until September 9th to have the Millennium Park cleared out.